in rear, never a factor, pulled up before 4 out
held up, 13th after 3rd, pushed along from 8th, no extra 11th, pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders, 3rd after 3rd, no extra from 5 out, no danger and eased approaching straight, pulled up before 3 out
held up, 16th after 3rd, got slight bump 9th, closer order 7 out, moderate 8th approaching straight, soon no extra and eased, completely tailed off
held up, pushed along at stages, 12th after 3rd, blundered and reminders 9th, trailing when hampered and pulled up after 6 out
held up, 15th after 3rd, slightly impeded 9th, no danger and eased approaching straight, jumped right 2 out, completely tailed off
held up, 14th after 3rd, slight mistake 6th, not fluent 10th, under pressure 12th, soon no extra and pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, 4th after 3rd, slighly slow 5th, 3rd and pushed along approaching straight, chased winner and no impression from 2 out, one pace
led and disputed early, soon led, pushed along after 12th, headed 7 out, fell 6 out
soon chased leaders, 8th after 3rd, mistake 11th, moderate 9th approaching straight, soon no extra, completely tailed off
soon mid-division, 11th after 3rd, not fluent 9th, slightly slow 12th, no impression when not fluent 4 out, moderate 6th approaching straight, jumped right 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, 5th after 3rd, slightly slow 8th, lost place briefly after 11th, 2nd approaching straight, led 3 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well run-in, easily
chased leaders, 7th after 3rd, pushed along briefly after 12th, 4th and pushed along approaching straight, chased winner and no impression from 2 out, one pace
soon tracked leaders, 6th after 3rd, improved to lead from 5 out, soon clear, headed 3 out, soon no extra, one pace
led and disputed early, soon headed, close up, led 7 out, headed from 5 out, dropped to 7th and no extra approaching straight, eased when jumped right 2 out, completely tailed off
soon chased leaders, 9th after 3rd, not fluent 4th and 12th, closed up 6 out, dropped to moderate 5th approaching straight, soon no impression, jumped left 2 out, one pace
soon mid-division, 10th after 3rd, slight mistake 8th, no extra and pulled up before 4 out
SWORD FISH won this a year ago for which he was raised 15lb, which proved far too much. He's hardly picked his feet up subsequently but a recent run on the Flat will have put him straight and, off just 2lb higher, he's taken to complete the double. The Bishop Looney won it in 2011 but has only won once since though he's alternated between hurdles and fences. The marathon trip brings out the best in him and another big run is anticipated. Tom Horn was beaten a long way in the race a year ago and is 3lb higher though he's run very well on his last two starts. Last year's runner-up Unoccupied showed his liking for a slogging match when scoring over 3m6f at Punchestown in May though the lack of a recent run could pose a problem as he came into this race with a run under his belt 12 months ago. Vics Canvas is still a novice and makes his handicap debut but is on a much lower mark than over hurdles while the form of Dushrembrandt's victory over Fever Pitch at Roscommon has been given a boost by the runner-up.
Nearest The Pin (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up, closer order 6th, ridden to challenge straight, 3rd and no impression last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Mitebeall Forluck (10-0) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs gd in Oct.
Ipsos Du Berlais (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and no impression after 5 out, no extra when mistake 3 out, 10th of 16, 17l behind My Murphy (11-10) at Navan 3m nov chs sft in Mar.
Tom Horn (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, close up 6 out, led next, clear after 3 out, reduced advantage and challenged entering straight, ridden before 2 out, strongly pressed and pecked slightly last, headed run-in, no extra in 2nd closing stages, just held 2nd, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Shanpallas (11-8) at Limerick 3m hcap ch gd in Oct.
Kashline (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Tracked leader, led soon after 3 out, left in clear lead next, easily, won at Downpatrick 2m 7f beg chs in Oct beating Indian Fairy (10-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Protaras (USA) 4-1fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, slight mistake and ridden last, under pressure in 6th entering straight, kept on straight to 4th close home, 4th of 8, 7l behind Black Benny (11-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs in Oct.
Darenjan (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Behind, ridden after 15th, never near leaders, tailed off when unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by The Young Master (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
The Amarillo Kid (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, dropped towards rear when not fluent 6th, last 6 out, under pressure from next, moderate 6th 2 out, moderate 5th straight, one pace, 5th of 8, 16l behind Mitebeall Forluck (10-0) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs gd in Oct.
Unoccupied 14-1 (9-12) Disputed lead early, led from 3rd and made rest, ridden entering straight, strongly pressed 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp chs 0-145 in May beating Hunting Party (10-9) by 1 3/4l, 19 ran.
Whodoyouthink (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Soon pushed along, prominent, 3rd after 3rd, left in lead and clear from next, reduced lead and mistake 6 out, soon reminders, headed into straight, soon no impression, one pace, 6th of 13, 8l behind Me And Ben (11-9) at Listowel 3m hcp chs 0-123 gd in Sep.
Carry Each Other (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Mid-division, 10th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Unoccupied (9-12) at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp chs 0-145 in May, 19 ran.
The Bishop Looney (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, weakened and dropped towards rear from before straight, no extra, 16th of 17, well behind Our Man Zebo (11-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl gd in Jun.
Vics Canvas (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Led, slight mistake 2nd, pressed from before halfway, joined 3 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, moderate 3rd and no impression 2 out, left 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Perfect Gentleman (11-12) at Tipperary 2m 7f beg chs gd in Oct.
Dushrembrandt (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, 3rd halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out and led before last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, won at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp chs gd in Sep beating Fever Pitch (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
A Decent Excuse (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 7th, closer order from 5 out, on terms approaching straight, no impression in 2nd when mistake last, one pace run-in and dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Fennis Moll (10-0) at Clonmel 3m hcap hdle gd in Oct.
Most Chaste (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, behind entering straight, 22nd of 24, well behind Carmels Boy (10-9) at Navan 2m 7f hcp hdl 80-95 gd in Sep.
Sword Fish (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Always behind, detached 6 out, pulled up before 2 out, never a factor, in a race won by Unoccupied (9-12) at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp chs 0-145 in May, 19 ran.
Ballyfinboy (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Mid-division, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, ridden in 4th after last, no extra straight, 6th of 8, 17l behind Black Benny (11-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs in Oct.
